Will Trump extend the July tariff deadline? Here’s what the White House says

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration could extend a July deadline for reimposing reciprocal tariffs on imports from other countries, the White House indicated on Thursday.

The tariffs, initially set to take effect on July 8-9, are not considered firm dates. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that these deadlines are “not critical” and could be extended, though the final decision lies with the President.

Leavitt added that if any country fails to reach a trade deal with the United States by then, President Trump may step in to propose an agreement himself. In such cases, he could set tariff rates he considers fair and beneficial to both the U.S. economy and American workers. “The President can choose a reciprocal tariff rate that he believes is in the best interest of the United States and its workers,” she said.

Regarding ongoing trade negotiations, Leavitt mentioned that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is working diligently and has had “positive and productive discussions” with several key trade partners.

Also, in a fresh development,  President Trump has said that a "very big deal" with India is likely to be signed soon. Trump also said that the US signed a trade pact with China yesterday. "Everybody wants to make a deal and be part of it. We just signed with China yesterday. We have one coming up—maybe with India. A very big one, where we are going to open up India. In the China deal, we are trying to open up China," Trump said a short while ago during an event on his controversial One Big Beautiful Bill.

On 9 April—just as President Trump’s sweeping tariff increases on trading partners were set to take effect—he pressed pause. The across-the-board hike, which would have imposed a 26 % duty on most Indian exports to the United States, is now deferred for 90 days. Only a week earlier, on 2 April, Trump had unveiled the package, the most far-reaching tariff proposal since the 1930s.